Politically, incorporating the local deity into the state religion enfranchised the new population and legitimized Roman rule ... and philosophers alike. Aesculapius was a god of health and ...

A stone head, believed to represent a bearded male deity, was discovered in the archaeological area of the Tombe di Via Latina in Rome, dating back to around the 2nd century CE. The head, larger ...

The face still presents significant layers of mortar that make full identification difficult, but its features —a carefully sculpted beard and a solemn expression— suggest it could be a Roman deity or ...